Exposure device and image forming device having a fixing member for fixing an optical system member

Abstract

An exposure device includes: an optical system member that causes light irradiated from a light emitting element to converge; an optical system support part that supports the optical system member; and a fixing member for fixing the optical system member to the optical system holding part. An elongation of the fixing member is in a range of 40% to 80% inclusive.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An exposure device, comprising:
 an optical system member that causes light irradiated from a light emitting element to converge; 
 an optical system support part that supports the optical system member; and 
 a first fixing member configured to fix the optical system member to the optical system support part, wherein 
 an elongation of the first fixing member is in a range of 40% to 80% inclusive, and a hardness (Shore D) of the first fixing member is in a range of 40 to 90 inclusive, 
 the first fixing member is configured such that a warping of the optical system member is maintained within an allowable range when the exposure device is exposed to a high-temperature environment for an extended period of time, and 
 the first fixing member is configured such that a straightness of the optical system member is maintained within an allowable range even when left under a high-temperature environment for an extended period of time. 
 
     
     
       2. The exposure device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the elongation of the first fixing member is in a range of 50% to 70% inclusive, and the hardness (Shore D) of the first fixing member is in a range of 60 to 70 inclusive. 
 
     
     
       3. The exposure device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the optical system support part holds sliding parts slidably arranged in correspondence with both end parts of the optical system member at a vicinity of the both end parts, and 
 the vicinity of the both end parts of the optical system member is fixed to the sliding parts by the first fixing member, and 
 a vicinity of a center part of the optical system member is directly fixed to a main body of the optical system support part by the first fixing member. 
 
     
     
       4. The exposure device of  claim 3 , wherein
 the optical system support part and the optical system member are fixed to each other between the vicinity of the both end parts of the optical system member and the vicinity of the center part of the optical system member. 
 
     
     
       5. The exposure device of  claim 1 , wherein
 fixing locations of the optical system support part and the optical system member include at least a vicinity of the both end parts and a vicinity of a center part of the optical system member. 
 
     
     
       6. The exposure device of  claim 5 , wherein
 the optical system support part and the optical system member are fixed to each other between the vicinity of the both end parts of the optical system member and the vicinity of the center part of the optical system member. 
 
     
     
       7. The exposure device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the fixing member is an UV adhesive. 
 
     
     
       8. The exposure device of  claim 7 , wherein
 the UV adhesive includes a glass filler. 
 
     
     
       9. The exposure device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the optical system member is a lens array. 
 
     
     
       10. The exposure device of  claim 9 , wherein
 a thermal expansion coefficient of the optical system member and a thermal expansion coefficient of the optical system support part are approximately the same. 
 
     
     
       11. The exposure device of  claim 10 , wherein
 a material of side plates of the lens array is a glass fiber epoxy resin laminated plate having a thermal expansion coefficient of 12 to 14 (10−6° C.), and 
 a base material of the optical system support part is an electrolytic zinc plated steel plate having a thermal expansion coefficient of 11.7 (10−6° C.). 
 
     
     
       12. The exposure device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the optical system support part includes a substrate contact surface on which a substrate including the light emitting element is mounted, 
 an acceptable range of a flatness of the substrate contact surface is 30 μm, and 
 an acceptable range of a straightness of the optical system member at the time when the optical system member is fixed to the optical system support part is 10 μm. 
 
     
     
       13. The exposure device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the light emitting element is a light emitting diode (LED). 
 
     
     
       14. An image forming device, comprising:
 the exposure device of  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       15. The exposure device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the extended period of time is 96 hours or more. 
 
     
     
       16. The exposure device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the allowable range of warping is less than or equal to 10 μm. 
 
     
     
       17. The exposure device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the high-temperature environment is at a temperature greater than or equal to 70° C. 
 
     
     
       18. The exposure device of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a second fixing member configured to fix the optical system member to the optical system support part; and 
 a sealant formed between the first and the second fixing members, 
 wherein 
 an elongation of the second fixing member is in a range of 40% to 80% inclusive, and a hardness (Shore D) of the second fixing member is in a range of 40 to 90 inclusive. 
 
     
     
       19. The exposure device of  claim 1 , further comprising
 second through N th  fixing members configured to fix the optical system member to the optical system support part; and 
 a sealant formed between adjacent pairs the first through N th  fixing members, 
 wherein 
 an elongation of the second through N th  fixing members is in a range of 40% to 80% inclusive, and hardness (Shore D) of the second through N th  fixing members is in a range of 40 to 90 inclusive. 
 
     
     
       20. An exposure device, comprising:
 an optical system member that causes light irradiated from a light emitting element to converge; 
 an optical system support part that supports the optical system member; and 
 a fixing member for fixing the optical system member to the optical system support part, wherein 
 the optical system support part holds sliding parts that is are arranged in correspondence with both end parts of the optical system member at a vicinity of the both end parts and that are slidable in a longitudinal direction, and 
 the vicinity of the both end parts of the optical system member is fixed to the sliding parts by the fixing member, and 
 a vicinity of a center part of the optical system member is directly fixed to a main body of the optical system support part by the fixing member. 
 
     
     
       21. The exposure device of  claim 20 , wherein
 the light emitting element is a light emitting diode (LED). 
 
     
     
       22. An image forming device, comprising:
 the exposure device of  claim 20 . 
 
     
     
       23. An exposure device, comprising:
 an optical system member that causes light irradiated from a light emitting element to converge; 
 an optical system support part that supports the optical system member; 
 a first fixing member configured to fix the optical system member to the optical system support part; 
 a second fixing member configured to fix the optical system member to the optical system support part; and 
 a sealant formed between the first and the second fixing members, 
 wherein 
 an elongation of the first fixing member is in a range of 40% to 80% inclusive, and a hardness (Shore D) of the first fixing member is in a range of 40 to 90 inclusive, and 
 an elongation of the second fixing member is in a range of 40% to 80% inclusive, and a hardness (Shore D) of the second fixing member is in a range of 40 to 90 inclusive.